According to the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA), both adopting parents must be at least 30 years of age to submit a dossier to adopt. Families can begin paperwork at age 29, however a dossier cannot be submitted to the CCAA until both adopting parents are 30 years old. Typically the CCAA will refer infants to couples where the youngest parent is 45 years of age or younger at the time of referral.

No. Based on new regulations that went into effect in May 2007, single applicants are no longer accepted.

Families become eligible by having a special needs adoption homestudy done by a licensed adoption agency in the state in which they reside. Each state designates which agencies to license for adoption services. In some, only the state human services department is licensed. In others, both public and private adoption agencies are licensed. Families may call their state agency or check the Yellow Pages of their local telephone directory under "Adoption ..

The program is open to singles or couples of any age above 18. Married couples should be married for at least one year. There is no specific “income standard” but adoptive families must have adequate income and financial resources to meet their living expenses. Some states where WACAP works will also consider non-traditional families.

Yes. However it will depend on the charge, conviction and time passed since the arrest took place. An FBI background check is required for all adoptive parents. All criminal history must be disclosed to AAC. Any attempt to avoid disclosure to AAC will result in termination of the adoption application. For further clarification please click here to read the requirements to adopt from China.

Currently it takes approximately 18-24 months from the time your application is accepted until travel to China to pick your child up. This time frame can lengthen or shorten depending on the China government?s timeframe in processing paper work. The process is divided into 5 phases. The Paper chase: This is the time frame that you will submit your application and begin to gather the necessary documents for your dossier. This will also include state mandated parenting classes and your home study.

It is possible but depends on the state you reside. Colorado does not allow more than one open home study so for that reason residence of Colorado are not allowed to have two concurrent adoptions. Check with your state officials to find out your options.

Not necessarily. The custodial agency may be evaluating a number of families for that child. The family chosen will be the one the agency feels can best meet the child's needs. That may mean a family skilled in dealing with post trauma stress, fetal alcohol syndrome, or ADHD. Or it may be a family who has access to special resources. When an agency and you decide that you are the most appropriate family, the child's worker will set up a series of visits between you and the child.

Most clients request a female child as they represent the majority of children available from China. It is possible to request a boy or child of either gender when applying to adopt from China. There will likely be a longer wait for those waiting only for a boy. AAI has received one boy referral through the regular program and many special needs boys through the Special Waiting Children’s program.

CCAA will place one child at a time and will accept a second dossier from a family only after the family has been home with their first adopted child for one year. Some families have requested two children through their home study, either siblings, twins or crib mates, but placement of two children is very rare. Simultaneous multiple placements constitute less than one percent of all placements through China.

The time frame for the entire adoption process varies as personnel, policies or procedures may change at the China Center of Adoption Affairs (CCAA). Other factors that may affect the time frame include the CIS approval, the home study process and the collection of all required documents. It is of the utmost importance that families in the "paperwork chase" follow the guidelines closely and be well organized, pro-active and efficient in compiling the documents.

Yes, you can. However, the CCAA gives priority to applicants who are childless or who have only one or two children. The CCAA does not accept families who already have five or more minors living in the home. Applicants who already have children in the home must be able to demonstrate their financial ability (see "Basic Requirements") and have proper child care arrangements.

The CCAA has some very specific regulations adoptive parents must meet in order to qualify to adopt from their country. You must be at least 30 years old and no older than 49 years old. If adopting a special needs child, you can be no older than 54 years old. You must be a married couple and have been married for at least 2 years before you can apply to adopt a child from China.

Look at NWAE's online photolisting services regularly. Look at other adoption and photo listing websites, too, by going to our info and links section for a directory of helpful websites. Participate in an adoptive parent support group and get wonderful support before, during, and after you adopt. Acquaint yourself with counseling services that specialize in adoption issues, as well as educational and social services in your community.

Home adopters are screened to ensure that a proper home will be provided for turkeys. It is mandatory that in-home adopters adhere to a vegetarian or vegan diet and commit to lifelong care for their turkeys. Home adopters must also demonstrate the financial and physical resources (acreage, shelter, etc.) necessary to providing proper care for the turkeys, and complete an adoption application. Click here to view adoption application.

Married couples and single women are eligible to adopt from Vietnam. Single women must be 25 years of age to start the process as required by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). According to Vietnam, parents must be at least 20 years older than the child being adopted. Any restrictions of prospective adoptive parents adopting internationally are set forth by standards of the foreign country. Some country standards are unwritten.

CIS guidelines require that adoptive families be 25 years or older to adopt. Married couples and single women are eligible to adopt from Guatemala. Your income must be at least 125% of the U.S. Poverty Guidelines.

Subsidy or adoption assistance is a money payment and/or service designed to assist families in meeting the special needs of their children. The amount depends on the age of the child and the special needs of the child. Most children who have special needs are eligible for adoption assistance. You can ask your social worker about a specific child’s eligibility for this assistance to meet his/her needs.

A married person without the other spouse joining as a petitioner, if the person to be adopted is not his or her spouse, and if: The failure of the other spouse to join in the petition or to consent to the adoption is excused by the court for good cause shown or in the best interest of the child.

The CCAA (China Center of Adoption Affairs) suggests an annual income guideline of $10,000 per family member plus the adopted child. If a family’s income is less than the suggested guideline, we may be able to present other assets the family may have such as 401-k, trust funds, properties owned, stocks, home equity, etc. CCAA would like to see an above-average income for those families interested in adopting through the special needs program.

The exact process differs among the various provinces in China. In general, there are four phases, provincial paperwork, the final adoption, the childs' passport, and the US INS paperwork. The provincial paperwork provides the final permission to adopt and is done in the provincial capital or a major city. The final adoption may be done in the same location or may require travel to the city where the orphanage is located.